Q&A for How to Save a Dying Goldfish

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  • Question
    Why are my new goldfish dying?
    Doug Ludemann
    Professional Aquarist
    Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geeks, LLC, an aquarium services company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Doug has worked in the aquarium and fish-care industry for over 20 years, including having worked as a professional aquarist for the Minnesota Zoo and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. He received his Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota.
    Professional Aquarist
    Expert Answer
    You have to provide them with the environmental parameters that are within their natural expectations and limits. So obviously, you need to provide them an aquatic environment, and then oxygen and temperature are going to be the critical factors. You also have to feed them a diet meant specifically for goldfish. If you're giving them random fish food that is meant for another species, it could be harmful for them. Also, make sure you keep the water clean! That's really essential when it comes to keeping your goldfish safe and comfortable.
  • Question
    How do I quarantine a sick goldfish?
    Doug Ludemann
    Professional Aquarist
    Doug Ludemann is the owner and operator of Fish Geeks, LLC, an aquarium services company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Doug has worked in the aquarium and fish-care industry for over 20 years, including having worked as a professional aquarist for the Minnesota Zoo and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. He received his Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota.
    Professional Aquarist
    Expert Answer
    Put it in a hospital tank, keep the hospital tank clean, and wait for a period of time. Anything that you see, I would action. So if you see it itch, treat it. If you see bacteria, treat it. If you see something going on with their scales, you can follow online for disease. Do your best to make the fish better, and don't add it back to the main tank until it has been healthy for a period of 30 days straight.
  • Question
    My fish tank water is turning green. How can I avoid this?
    Community Answer
    Try to clean the fish tank regularly (1-2 times a week). Goldfish produce a lot of ammonia. When cleaning, take the fish out of the tank first, replace 25%-50% of the water each time, clean the rocks and any other accessories, then place the fish back in the tank.
  • Question
    If a fish is near dying and I have tried everything recommended, would it be kinder to take it out of the tank, or leave it in the water?
    Community Answer
    Fish naturally die in water, rather than drowning on land. It really doesn't matter if you leave your fish in water or take it out, it will die in about the same amount of time. It might be kinder to let your fish die in its tank, because that is where it has always lived.
  • Question
    My goldfish keep dying on me. I have a small tank with 10 fish, but now I have 6. We have air low and a filter. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    It depends on the size of your tank. It sounds like you have a lot of fish in one small tank. Try getting a bigger fish tank, because to much crowding can cause the fish to stress, in addition to creating a higher concentration of waste. If it's a really small tank, you should only keep 1-2 fish at a time.
  • Question
    What can I do to cure a fish that has white spots with black borders on his scales?
    Community Answer
    Take it to the vet immediately. If you don't want to tweezer the white spots, the vet will give you medication for it.
  • Question
    What do I do if I just cleaned my goldfish tank and my goldfish are sitting at the bottom?
    Community Answer
    If fish are dead, they will float to the top. Since they are at the bottom, they may be eating the minerals in the rocks at the bottom of the tank. Just in case, make sure that you clean the tank(s) every two days to keep the water clean. Keep in mind that the fish poop and do everything else in the tank. If they end up at the top, quickly take the fish out and place them in clean water. If they don't move, they are in a better place.
  • Question
    My goldfish jumped out of its bowl. How do I save it?
    Community Answer
    Well, scooping it up and putting it back in the bowl would help. Other than that, just follow the advice in the article. You might want to get a bigger tank, as a bowl may be too small for your fish to be happy.
  • Question
    What do I do if my goldfish is getting black smudges on the side of his face?
    Community Answer
    Black smudges on goldfish often appear because of high ammonia levels. Just doing frequent water changes can fix that. To prevent this from happening again, a larger tank might be necessary.
  • Question
    My goldfish is sitting at the bottom of my tank and won't move. He doesn't come up for food, and he is gasping for air. We ran out of conditioner -- do you think that's the problem?
    Community Answer
    You may have low oxygen levels. Try changing 50 percent of the water, since you have no water conditioner, and leave the water out for 24 hours to get rid of the chlorine. Also, you may want to add a water filter, airstones, or even live plants.
  • Question
    My fish is floating near the top of the fish tank and is gasping for oxygen. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    If you aren't already using one, get a oxygen pump and air stone to help it breathe. Check the temperature and pH of your water to ensure the environment is proper.
  • Question
    I had 9 fish, but now only 6 are left. I am worried. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    Try separating them all or separating them into pairs and putting them into different tanks. Some of them might be bullying the others, or one of them has an illness it's passing to the rest.
  • Question
    My fish doesn't have enough air. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    If you have a bowl get rid of it. That may cause a lack of oxygen, so move to an aquarium.
  • Question
    What if it's already dead? Can I bring it back?
    Community Answer
    No, if it's already dead, you cannot bring it back. But you can hold a funeral to say goodbye to your little friend.
  • Question
    My fish is lying sideways at the bottom of the tank. His gills are still moving, and he's been like this for hours! What can I do?
    Community Answer
    He may have swim bladder disease. Try giving him some frozen peas.
  • Question
    My fish seems to be losing some of its tail. What do I do?
    Community Answer
    That is fin/tail rot. It's fatal if untreated. Try API Fungus Cure or Melafix. Just make sure to check the concentration of medicines that aren't tablets. It's also possible that your fish simply tore their fin. Make sure there are no plants or other objects in the tank with sharp edges that could have hurt him.
  • Question
    My fish's tail is crooked and it's swimming crooked and upside down. What do I do?
    Community Answer
    Swim bladder disease, feed your fish peas and change the water. If that doesn’t work, take it to the vet.
  • Question
    I've had two goldfish in a tank for a year now, but the last couple of days one of them has stopped swimming around and just seems to lie at the bottom and look lethargic. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    How exactly big is your tank? For fish that are at least one year old, hopefully it's a 20-gallon tank. The problem could also be your water change schedule. Do a water change every day if your fish keeps behaving like this.
  • Question
    Are there alternatives to frozen peas if my fish might have swim bladder disease and I don't have any peas?
    Community Answer
    Get green beans, split them down the middle, remove the seeds and then rip the skin into smaller pieces. They love to eat the skin.
  • Question
    My goldfish keeps lying at the bottom of the tank, staying away from the other goldfish, his scales have gone dark and have developed a strip of discoloration along his sides. Is he dying?
    Community Answer
    He probably has finrot, try isolating him and treating him with goldfish finrot medication.
  • Question
    Can I use aqua guard water for my fish?
    Community Answer
    Changing the fish water type is highly risky to your fish.
  • Question
    How many goldfish can live in a 10-gallon tank?
    Community Answer
    Only one I'm afraid, as goldfish produce a lot of waste, which will affect the water quality very quickly.
  • Question
    The fish is moving very slowly and does not eat the food. Why is this? What can l do?
    Community Answer
    I think your fish has Swim bladder disease. Give him some frozen peas.
  • Question
    My goldfish has a funky mouth (it looks like a figure 8). She's floating on top of the tank, and she only breathes when she hits something in the tank. What could be wrong?
    Community Answer
    The mouth thing is odd -- not sure, there. But it is likely that the floating is swim bladder disease. Try hand feeding some frozen peas to him. To prevent this from happening in the future, make sure you put your fish food in the water before letting the fish eat it.
  • Question
    My fish's black scales have become a lighter silver color. Can that be from the water?
    Community Answer
    Most goldfish are not truly black, so it could be getting its adult colors. Do at least a twenty-five percent water change, preferably a fifty percent though.
  • Question
    My goldfish is turning black. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    It could be possible that your goldfish is just changing colors because of its genes, but could also be possible that it's changing colours from their environment or food, or ot could also be a sign of disease.
  • Question
    Is my goldfish dying if its top fin has gone flat and it only swims at the top of the tank?
    Dipankar Majumdar
    Community Answer
    It may be dying, or is certainly sick. Do water changes and and look for disease symptoms.
  • Question
    My goldfish is floating to the top of the tank and gasping for air. What do I do?
    Community Answer
    It is probably a result of low oxygen or bad water quality. Change the water, if you haven't already. If the problem persists, consult an aquatic veterinarian.
  • Question
    What is wrong if a goldfish has a bubble under its chin?
    Community Answer
    They are suspectable to sickness. The fish may have tried to eat and got air trapped in the gills and chin. Most likely it will be gone by the next feeding.
  • Question
    My goldfish has been on his side at the bottom of the tank for over a week. He is eating fine and keeps trying to get up for air. I moved him to a separate tank yesterday but he is still on his side gasping for air. What should I do? It has been over a week and I hate to see him suffer like this.
    Community Answer
    Call or take him to the closest pet store to see if they have any advice. It's possible that your goldfish has broken its fin or some other part of their body that is making them unable to function in the water.
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